Section 17G. The commission shall provide to an active or retired employee
of
the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission coverage
for
the following items if such items are within a category of benefits or services
for
which coverage is otherwise afforded, have been prescribed by a health care
professional legally authorized to prescribe such items and if the items are
medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of insulin-dependent,
insulin-using, gestational and non-insulin-dependent diabetes: blood glucose
monitors; blood glucose monitoring strips for home use; voice-synthesizers for
blood glucose monitors for use by the legally blind; visual magnifying aids for
use by the legally blind; urine glucose strips; ketone strips; lancets;
insulin;
insulin syringes; prescribed oral diabetes medications that influence blood
sugar
levels; laboratory tests, including glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbAlc, tests;
urinary protein/microalbumin and lipid profiles; insulin pumps and insulin pump
supplies; insulin pens, so-called; therapeutic/molded shoes and shoe inserts
for
people who have severe diabetic foot disease when the need for therapeutic
shoes
and inserts has been certified by the treating doctor and prescribed by a
podiatrist or other qualified doctor and furnished by a podiatrist, orthotist,
prosthetist or pedorthist; supplies and equipment approved by the Federal Drug
Administration for the purposes for which they have been prescribed and
diabetes
outpatient self-management training and education, including medical nutrition
therapy, when provided by a certified diabetes health care provider
participating
with the insurance contract or affiliated with a provider participating with
the
insurance contract. As used in this section, "certified diabetes health care
provider" shall mean a licensed health care professional with expertise in
diabetes, a registered dietician or a health care provider certified by the
National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators as a certified diabetes
educator. When coverage is provided through a nonprofit hospital service
corporation or a nonprofit medical corporation, outpatient self-management
training and education shall be provided by a certified diabetes health care
provider participating with the hospital service plan or medical service
agreement or affiliated with a provider participating with the hospital service
plan or medical service agreement. When coverage is provided through a health
maintenance contract, outpatient self-management training and education,
including medical nutrition therapy, shall be provided by a certified diabetes
health care provider participating with the health maintenance contract or
affiliated with a provider participating with the health maintenance contract.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the commission to contract
with a certified diabetes health care provider who is not already under contract
with the commission.

The benefits provided in this section shall meet all other terms and
conditions
within an insurance plan. Coverage shall not be reduced or eliminated due to
the
requirements of this section.

Section 10C. The division shall provide coverage for the following items if
such
items are within a category of benefits or services for which coverage is
otherwise afforded, have been prescribed by a health care professional legally
authorized to prescribe such items and if the items are medically necessary for
the diagnosis or treatment of insulin-dependent, insulin-using, gestational and
non-insulin-dependent diabetes: blood glucose monitors; blood glucose
monitoring
strips for home use; voice-synthesizers for blood glucose monitors for use by
the
legally blind; visual magnifying aids for use by the legally blind; urine
glucose
strips; ketone strips; lancets; insulin; insulin syringes; prescribed oral
diabetes medications that influence blood sugar levels; laboratory tests,
including glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbAlc, tests; urinary
protein/microalbumin
and lipid profiles; insulin pumps and insulin pump supplies; insulin pens,
so-called; therapeutic/molded shoes and shoe inserts for people who have severe
diabetic foot disease when the need for therapeutic shoes and inserts has been
certified by the treating doctor and prescribed by a podiatrist or other
qualified doctor and furnished by a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist or
pedorthist; supplies and equipment approved by the Federal Drug Administration
for the purposes for which they have been prescribed and diabetes outpatient
self-management training and education, including medical nutrition therapy,
when
provided by a certified diabetes health care provider. As used in this
section,
"certified diabetes health care provider" shall mean a licensed health care
professional with expertise in diabetes, a registered dietician or a health
care
provider certified by the National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators as
a
certified diabetes educator. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require the division to contract with a certified diabetes health care provider
who is not already under contract with the division.

SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
striking out
section 47N, as so appearing, and inserting in place
thereof the following
section:-

Section 47N. An individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued
pursuant to section 108 which provides hospital expense and surgical expense
insurance, except policies providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or other
governmental programs, and any group blanket policy of accident and sickness
insurance issued pursuant to section 110 which provides hospital expense and
surgical expense insurance, except policies providing supplemental coverage to
Medicare or other governmental programs, delivered, issued or renewed by
agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the
commonwealth, shall provide benefits for the following items if such items are
within a category of benefits or services for which coverage is otherwise
afforded by the policy, have been prescribed by a health care professional
legally authorized to prescribe such items and if the items are medically
necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of insulin-dependent, insulin-using,
gestational and non-insulin-dependent diabetes: blood glucose monitors; blood
glucose monitoring strips for home use; voice-synthesizers for blood glucose
monitors for use by the legally blind; visual magnifying aids for use by the
legally blind; urine glucose strips; ketone strips; lancets; insulin; insulin
syringes; prescribed oral diabetes medications that influence blood sugar
levels;
laboratory tests, including glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbAlc, tests; urinary
protein/microalbumin and lipid profiles; insulin pumps and insulin pump
supplies;
insulin pens, so-called; therapeutic/molded shoes and shoe inserts for people
who
have severe diabetic foot disease when the need for therapeutic shoes and
inserts
has been certified by the treating doctor and prescribed by a podiatrist or
other
qualified doctor and furnished by a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist or
pedorthist; supplies and equipment approved by the Federal Drug Administration
for the purposes for which they have been prescribed and diabetes outpatient
self-management training and education, including medical nutrition therapy,
when
provided by a certified diabetes health care provider participating with the
insurance contract or affiliated with a provider participating with the
insurance
contract. As used in this section, "certified diabetes health care provider"
shall mean a licensed health care professional with expertise in diabetes, a
registered dietician or a health care provider certified by the National
Certification Board of Diabetes Educators as a certified diabetes educator.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an insurance company to
contract with a certified diabetes health care provider who is not already
under
contract with the insurance company.

The benefits provided in this section shall meet all other terms and
conditions
within a policy. Coverage shall not be reduced or eliminated due to the
requirements of this section.

Section 8P. A contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an
individual or group hospital service plan which provides hospital expense and
surgical expense insurance, except contracts providing supplemental coverage to
Medicare or other governmental programs, delivered, issued or renewed by
agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the
commonwealth, shall provide benefits to all individual subscribers and members
within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of
employment within the commonwealth for the following items if such items are
within a category of benefits or services for which coverage is otherwise
afforded by the contract, have been prescribed by a health care professional
legally authorized to prescribe such items and if the items are medically
necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of insulin-dependent, insulin-using,
gestational and non-insulin-dependent diabetes: blood glucose monitors; blood
glucose monitoring strips for home use; voice-synthesizers for blood glucose
monitors for use by the legally blind; visual magnifying aids for use by the
legally blind; urine glucose strips; ketone strips; lancets; insulin; insulin
syringes; prescribed oral diabetes medications that influence blood sugar
levels;
laboratory tests, including glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbAlc, tests; urinary
protein/microalbumin and lipid profiles; insulin pumps and insulin pump
supplies;
insulin pens, so-called; therapeutic/molded shoes and shoe inserts for people
who
have severe diabetic foot disease when the need for therapeutic shoes and
inserts
has been certified by the treating doctor and prescribed by a podiatrist or
other
qualified doctor and furnished by a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist or
pedorthist; supplies and equipment approved by the Federal Drug Administration
for the purposes for which they have been prescribed and diabetes outpatient
self-management training and education, including medical nutrition therapy,
when
provided by a certified diabetes health care provider participating with the
hospital service plan or affiliated with a provider participating with the
hospital service plan. As used in this section, "certified diabetes health
care
provider" shall mean a licensed health care professional with expertise in
diabetes, a registered dietician or a health care provider certified by the
National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators as a certified diabetes
educator. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a nonprofit
service corporation to contract with a certified diabetes health care provider
who is not already under contract with such nonprofit service corporation.

The benefits provided in this section shall meet all other terms and
conditions
within a subscription certificate. Hospital service plans shall not reduce or
eliminate coverage due to the requirements of this section.

Section 4S. A subscription certificate under an individual or group medical
service agreement which provides hospital expense and surgical expense
insurance,
except certificates which provide supplemental coverage to Medicare or other
governmental programs, delivered, issued or renewed by agreement between the
insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, shall provide
benefits to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and
to
all group members having a principal place of employment within the
commonwealth
coverage for the following items if such items are within a category of
benefits
or services for which coverage is otherwise afforded by the medical service
agreement, have been prescribed by a health care professional legally
authorized
to prescribe such items and if the items are medically necessary for
the diagnosis or treatment of insulin-dependent, insulin-using, gestational and
non-insulin-dependent diabetes: blood glucose monitors; blood glucose
monitoring
strips for home use; voice-synthesizers for blood glucose monitors for use by
the
legally blind; visual magnifying aids for use by the legally blind; urine
glucose
strips; ketone strips; lancets; insulin; insulin syringes; prescribed oral
diabetes medications that influence blood sugar levels; laboratory tests,
including glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbAlc, tests; urinary
protein/microalbumin
and lipid profiles; insulin pumps and insulin pump supplies; insulin pens,
so-called; therapeutic/molded shoes and shoe inserts for people who have severe
diabetic foot disease when the need for therapeutic shoes and inserts has been
certified by the treating doctor and prescribed by a podiatrist or other
qualified doctor and furnished by a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist or
pedorthist; supplies and equipment approved by the Federal Drug Administration
for the purposes for which they have been prescribed and diabetes outpatient
self-management training and education, including medical nutrition therapy,
when
provided by a certified diabetes health care provider participating with the
medical service agreement or affiliated with a provider participating with the
medical service agreement. As used in this section, "certified diabetes health
care provider" shall mean a licensed health care professional with expertise in
diabetes, a registered dietician or a health care provider certified by the
National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators as a certified diabetes
educator. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a medical
service corporation to contract with a certified diabetes health care provider
who is not already under contract with such medical service corporation.

The benefits provided in this section shall meet all other terms and
conditions
within a subscription certificate. Medical service agreements shall not reduce
or
eliminate coverage due to the requirements of this section.

Section 4H. Any individual or group health maintenance contract, except
contracts providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or other governmental
programs, delivered, issued or renewed by agreement between the insurer and the
policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, shall provide, as set forth
in
section 47N of chapter 175, coverage for the following items if such items
are
within a category of benefits or services for which coverage is otherwise
afforded by the contract, have been prescribed by a health care professional
legally authorized to prescribe such items and if the items are medically
necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of insulin-dependent, insulin-using,
gestational and non-insulin-dependent diabetes: blood glucose monitors; blood
glucose monitoring strips for home use; voice-synthesizers for blood glucose
monitors for use by the legally blind; visual magnifying aids for use by the
legally blind; urine glucose strips; ketone strips; lancets; insulin; insulin
syringes; prescribed oral diabetes medications that influence blood sugar levels;
laboratory tests, including glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbAlc, tests; urinary
protein/microalbumin and lipid profiles; insulin pumps and insulin pump
supplies;
insulin pens, so-called; therapeutic/molded shoes and shoe inserts for people
who
have severe diabetic foot disease when the need for therapeutic shoes and
inserts
has been certified by the treating doctor and prescribed by a podiatrist or
other
qualified doctor and furnished by a podiatrist, orthotist, prosthetist or
pedorthist; supplies and equipment approved by the Federal Drug Administration
for the purposes for which they have been prescribed and diabetes outpatient
self-management training and education, including medical nutrition therapy,
when
provided by a certified diabetes health care provider participating with the
health maintenance contract or affiliated with a provider participating with
the
health maintenance contract. As used in this section, "certified diabetes
health
care provider" shall mean a licensed health care professional with expertise in
diabetes, a registered dietician or a health care provider certified by the
National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators as a certified diabetes
educator. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a health
maintenance organization to contract with a certified diabetes health care
provider who is not already under contract with such health maintenance
organization.

The benefits provided in this section shall meet all other terms and
conditions
within a health maintenance contract. Health maintenance contracts shall not
reduce or eliminate coverage due to the requirements of this section.